Signaling system.



No. 804,819. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. E. ALLISON.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 14 1902.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

I n Z 9\ 4 W ejq No. 804,819.' PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. J. E. ALLISON.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1902.

' I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4 7 g wem%m untrue s ra ns JAMES E. ALLISON, OF ST. LOUlS, MiSSOURl, ASSlGNUR TO GEORGE @FFl'OF.

SEELEY, OF NEW YORK, Y.

sienatnue ersreei.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Nov. 21, 1965.

Application filed August 1 1992, Serial 1%. 119,639.

Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement .in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and.

use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is-a view illustrating a plurality of track-signals in combination with the instrument in the home ofiice. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanisms supported in one of the track instruments, the front-plate of the casing being removed. Fig. a is a view, partly in section, at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the general character of that illustrated in Fig. 3, but showing the parts in another position. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3, i, and 5, the top of the casing being removed; and Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail views illustrating modified constructions of the signal.

My invention relates to signaling systems, and is particularly applicable to suburban electrical railroads, although it is in no wise limited to such use.

M y object is to provide means whereby the home olllce or the train despatcher can notify any carupon the track that the office desires to communicate with such car,- there being means whereby after a car has been thus signaled communication can be had with the oflice.

To this end and also to improve generally upon systems of the character indicated and upon the apparatus employed in such systems my invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents what may be termed the sending instri1ment-i. (3., the instrument located in the home oilice-by means of which the signals along the track can be operated, the instruments located along the track being indicated by 2-. These track instruments are located at convenient distances from each other, and each is provided with a signal which can be operated to attract the attention of the motorman or conductor of scar. have here shown each track instrument prolatch 12,

l necessary in this specification.

vided with a signal-paddle 3, a signal-light 4i, and a hell 4. The paddle of each track instrument is normally held in raised position and in the form of device shown in Fig. 1 the lamp i is extinguished and the bell-circuit is broken under normal conditions. When, however, it the proper paddle is dropped to bring the same across the track, and at the same time the signal-lamp is lighted and the bell-circuit is completed. When the paddle falls and the lamp is lighted, a signal is given the home office, thus informing the despatcher or other oiiicial that the desired tracksignal has operated. The signal-paddle, the lamp, and the bell remain in signaling condition until the conductor of the carer train has manually reset the paddle, extinguished the lamp, and broken the bell-circuit. graph instrument, or other device 5 for communicating with the home ofiice is located upon or near each of the track signaling apparatus, and l have here shown each telephone instrument along the track as located in the casing which supports the signaling apparatus. in Fig. 7 l have illustrated a device which includes a constantly-burning lamp, the shaft upon which the signal-paddle 3 is mounted also carrying a plate 6 of colored glass, which is thrown in front of the lamp when the paddle falls into signaling position.

I shall first consider the construction of the signaling apparatus located along the track. This is preferably mounted in and upon a boxing or casing 7, which can be of any suitable construction for containing the various mechanisms. Bolted or otherwise secured to the casing is a supporting-frame 8, having plates in which is journaled a horizontal shaft 9, the signal-paddle 3 being mounted upon said shaft to move therewith, and extending through a diaeietrical slot in the shaft is a bolt 10, which normally forced into what is desired to communicate with a car,

A telephone, tolermay be termed projected position by means of a spring 11,fastened to the said shaft. Suitably supported upon the said frame 8 is a which is controlled by the armature 13 of an electromagnet 14, the latch here shown being of a construction which is commonly used for controlling doors of apartment-houses and the like, and for this reason no further description of the said latch is thought to be signal-paddle is thrown into raised position,

When the IUD the bolt 10 isengaged the saidlatch 12 and the shaft and its paddle 3 are locked in normal position, being helddn such position against the force of aspring 15, coiled about 5 the said shafh'dne end. of said spring being connected to the shaft and its other end being held upon the frame 8 in a manner which will be well understood. In addition to the arm carrying the signal-paddle 3, the shaft 9 is I provided with an arm 16,to which is connected a cord or rod 17, adapted to be grasped by the operator for the purpose of throwing the shaft into normal position after the same has been tripped.

Upon suitable cross-bars 18 upon the frame 8 are op positely-located spring contact-fingers 19, which are included in the circuit controlling the lamp 4, and extending transversely through an arm 20 uponthe shaft 9 and insulated from said arm is a cross-bar 21, Whose ends are adapted to engage the said spring- .contacts 19, and thus complete the light-circuit. The said bars 18 also support spring contact-fingers-19*, which are included in and 5 control the bell-circuit, across-bar 21 upon the arm 20 and insulated therefrom cooperating with said fingers .to complete the said circuit when the position. The parts are so arranged with re- 3 lation to each other that when the shaft 9 is in set positiont'. a, when the signal-paddle is in itsnormal positionthe cross-bars or connectors 21 and 21 are out of engagement with the respective sets of spring-fingers 19 3 5 and 19; but when the shaft has been partially rotated to bring the paddle 3 in signaling position the said cross-bars or connectors lie between the said spring-fingers, and thus complete the said circuits. 4 shaft 9 can be limited in any suitable manner,

and I have here shown the parts so arranged with relation to each other that the said arm 20 engages one of the side-bars of the frame 8 when the shaft-is thrown into set position,

4. 5 and a plate 22, connected to said arm and shaft, engages the opposite s de bar of the said frame when the shaft moves ihtoposition to throw the signal-paddle and to ight the lamp and ring the bell.

Suitably supported upon the frame 8 is a signaling mechanism for transmittinga signal to thehome oflice when the shaft 9 has been rotated to throw the signal-paddle and to complete the light and bell circuits. The sig- 55 naling apparatus here employed is at 23 and includes a notched disk 24, which cooperates with a spring contact-finger 25, said disk being rotated through a train of gears 26, driven from a spring-actuated shaft27, the

6; spring beingindicated at 28. The mechanism just described is merely the usual mechanism of atelegraph-call and will therefore be readily understood. Fixed upon the shaft 27 is a gear 29, which meshes with a gear 30, loosely mounted upon the shaft 9.- Extending 'diapaddle moves into signaling come to rest in their normal positions.

The movement of the 'the shaft 9 is turned backward ly to reset the indicatedmetrically through a second slot in the said shaft 9 is a bolt 31, which is slidable in the said slot, said bolt being normally held in operative or projected position by means of a spring-plate 32, fastened to the shaft 9. The forward end of this boltlies behind and in engagement with a lug 33 upon the face of the loose gear 30 when the parts are in normal position, so that when the shaft 9 is tripped and turned to throw the signal paddle the loose gear 30 turns with said shaft and through the gear 29. winds the spring 28. Projecting from the side of the bolt 31 is a pin 34, which as the bolt is moved by the rotation of the shaft 9 engages a cari prgjeetion 35 in its path of movement, whereby the said bolt is re tracted against the force of the spring 32 to carry the bolt out of engagement with the lug 33, this retraction of the bolt occurring at almost the end of the movement of the shaft 9, said shaft having sufficient further movement to carry the bolt beyond the rear end of the lug 33, and thus prevent operative engagement between the said bolt and lug as soon as the pin "has ridden over the cam 35. As soon as the bolt has been carried out of engagement with the said lug the spring 28 asserts itself and the shaft 27 commences to rotate in the direction opposite to that in which it has been rotating, the signal mechanism 23 being thus thrown into action in a manner which will be readily understood. By this reverse rotation of the shaft 27 the gear 30 is rotated about the shaft 9 until. the lug 33 engages a suitable stop 36, whereupon the signaling mechanism 23 ceases to operate, and the gear 30 and said signaling mechanism When same, the bolt 31, which has a cam outer end, slides along the lug 33 unt l it clears the same,

and said bolt is then forced into projected operative position by means of the spring 32,

' the parts being then ready for a subsequent operation of the apparatus.

The circuit through the magnet 14, which controls the latch 12, is controlled by a switch apparatus 37, conveniently supported in the casing 7. This switch apparatus is somewhat of the general type of a telegraph-sounder and includes a supporting-arch 38, between thelegs of which is pi'votally mounted a lever 39, which has an armature 40 extending across the same and cooperating with electromagnets 41, the upward movement of the lever being limited by means of an arm 42, which extends over its free end and is provided witha setscrew 43. Upon the post 44, from which the said arm 42 extends, is pivoted adisk 45, of fiber or other insulating material, said disk extending in a plane substantially parallel to the BilIlG in which the lever 39 oscillates and. having a pin 46 of conducting material embedded therein and extending from the me- 1 tailic pivot-pin 47 of the disk to the periphery to be completed by means of the before-mentioned conducting cross-bars 21 and 21.

It will of course be understood that each track signaling apparatus is provided with light and bell circuits and is also provided with a local battery 63,with relays 61 and 62, with a switch mechanism 37, and witha latchmagnet 14, the wires 87 and 95 being linewires' leading from the home, station or despatchers oflice and wires 87 and 96 leading at each track signaling apparatus from the respective wires 87 and 95 to the relays 61 and 62 of each track signaling mechanism. The various track signaling mechanisms are numbered to correspond to the numbers upon the dial 67, and the disk 24 of each of said mechanisms is provided with the proper number of notches to cause the sounder 82 to sound a number of times corresponding to the number of the particular mechanism which is being operated. The disks 45 of the various track mechanisms are so set that each, in order to bring its conducting-pin 46 in engagement with the contact-plate 48 when the circuit including the said, pin and plate is energized, must be moved through a number of steps corresponding to the number of the particular track signaling mechanism in which it is included. For example, in track signaling mechanism No. 1 the disk 45 will be so set that one depression of the lever.39 of the switchmechanism serves to throw the said pin into engagement with the'contact-plate' 48. The disk 45 in track mechanism No. 2,is so set that the lever 39 must be twice depressed in order to cause contact between the said pin and the said plate, &c.

We pass now to a consideration of the operation of the device. Under normal conditions all of the signal-paddles 3 are in raised position, the bell-circuits are broken, and the lights are extinguished, or if the type of device shown in Fig. 7 is employed a white light shows, the disk of colored glass being in such position that it does not cover the said light. All of the circuits are broken, for the contactdisk 69 is held at rest in such position that the contact-spring 85 lies in one of the notches of the said disk. There is no connection between the 'dial 67 and the contact-arm 70. The armatures 61 and 62' are held by their springs away from their terminals 91 and 103, and the variousswitch mechanisms 37 have their disks 45 in normal position,with the contactpins 46 out of engagement with the respective plates 48., The contact-fingers 25, however, engage the signaling-disks 24 and make contact therewith. We will assume that the despatcher desires to operate track-signal No. 5. The contact-disk 69 and contact-arm. 70 may be carried forwardly until" the contact-arm engages the conducting-pin- 80, when. the parts will be brought to rest. Between the time that the mechanism has been thrown into op:

eration and the time it is stopped, as just in thrown.

assets dicated, five of the teeth upon the contactdisk 69 will have engaged the contact-finger 85, and the relay -magnet 61 of each track signaling mechanism will thus have been energized five times. Therefore the magnet of the switch mechanism 37 of each track signaling apparatus will have been energized five times, whereby the disk 45 of each switch mechanism will have been thrown through five steps. Thedisk 69 will then come to rest in such position that the contact-finger 85 lies in one of its notches, and therefore the current is broken as soon as said disks stop. No current passes along the wire 95 until the contact-arm 70 is brought to rest against the conductin -pin 80. Thus it will be seen that although the conducting-pin 46 of the track signaling mechanism No. engaged the plate 48 when the first tooth of the contact-disk 49 engaged the finger 85 the latch-magnet 14 of the track signaling mechanism No. 1 was not energized. The conducting-pins 46 of track signaling mecha...sms Nos. 2, 3, and 4 were successively brought into engagement with their cooperating contact-plates 48; but for the reason just given no current was conducted to' the latch-magnets. Of course although the contact-pins of switch mechanism Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 were brought into successive engagement with their co6perating contact-plates 48 each conducting-pin 46 was thrown out of engagement with its cooperating contact-plate 48 upon the movement of the lever 39 next following the movement by means of which a particular pin and plate had been brought into engagement. As the fifth tooth of the contact-dial 69 engaged the finger 85 the switch-dial of track signaling mechanism 5 was brought into such position that its conducting-finger 46 engaged its contact-plate 48, and as the contact-arm 70 came to rest against the conducting-pin after the said fifth toothvof the contactplate 69 had engaged the finger and before the sixth tooth of said plate engaged said finger the circuit including the latch-magnet 14 oftrack signaling mechanism No. 5 is now complete except for the break between terminal 103 and'the armature 62". As soon, however, as contact-arm 70 engages the pin 80 the circuit is completed through the relaymagnet 62, and the circuit through the latchmagnet is therefore completed, and the signal-paddle is released, the light and bell circuits being completed as the said paddle falls. Through the mechanism heretofore explained the signaling apparatus 23 operates as soon as the paddle falls, and the sounder 82 at the despatchers ofiice' is operated to inform him that that particular track signal has been 2 After the sounder has operatedand the -tles'patcher is satisfied that the ,desired signal has been thrown the pin 80 is removed from the hole in the dial to the contact-disk 69, and contact-arm 70 is moved through the that which has been operated is brought into such position that the conducting-pin 46 engages the contact-plate 48, the latch-magnets of these several mechanisms are not operated, for the reason that no current flows through the circuits including the said latch-magnets except when the conducting-pin 80 connects the dial and the contact-arm 70. It will thus be seen that the circuit including each latchmagnet is broken at two points, and these two points of a circuit are simultaneously closed only in the particular track signaling mechanism desired to be operated.

A telephone or corresponding device 5 is located at'or near each track signaling mechanism, so that as soon as a conductor reaches a point at which a signal is thrown he can communicate with the home ofiice. The telephones at the track signaling mechanisms and the telephone 105 at the home station can be conveniently connected to the line-wires 87 and 95 in a manner which will be perfectly obvious. I

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be madeand substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the principle and nature of my invention.

As shown in Fig. 8, the light upon the supporting-case can be omitted and arow of lamps can be placed along the paddle, said lamps preferably being lighted at all times.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a system of the character indicated, a plurality of signals, an operating mechanism for each of said signals, a source'of energy 10- cal to each said operating mechanism, a circuit local to each said operating mechanism and including the same and said source of energy local thereto, a switch in each of said. local circuits, a switch-operating mechanism for each said switch, a line -circuit including all of said switch-operating mechanisms and receiving its energy from a source independent of said local sources of energy, a device in said line-circuit for controlling the same, a second switch in each of said local circuits, said second switchesbeing adapted to be brought into operative positions at differ-ent times with respect to each other, a second circuit local to each of said signals, an operating mechanism for each of said second switches and located in the respective said second local circuit, a switch in each of said second local circuits, a switch-operating mechanism for each of said last-mentioned switches, a second line-circuit including all of said lastmentioned switch-operating mechanisms and receiving its energy from a source independent of said local sources of energy, and a device in said second line-circuit for controlling the same; substantially as described.

2. In a system of the character indicated, a plurality of signals, an operating mechanism for each of said signals, a source of energy local to each said operating mechanism, a circuit local to each said operating mechanism and including the same and said source of energy local thereto, a switch in each of said local circuits, a switch -operating mechanism for each said switch, a line-circuit including all of said switch-operating mechanisms and receiving itsenergy from a source independent of said local sources of energy, a device in said line-circuit for controlling the same, a second switch in each of said local circuits, said second switches being adapted to. he brought into operative positions at different times with respect to each other, a second circuit local to each of said signals and deriving its energy from said local-source of energy, an operating mechanism for each of said second switches and located in the respective said second local circuit, a switch in each of said second local circuits, a switch-operating mechanism for each of said last-mentioned switches, a second line-circuit including all of said last-mentioned switch-operating mechanisms and receiving its energy from asouree independent of saidv local sources of energy, and a device in said second line-circuitfor controlling-the same; substantially as described.

3. In a system of the character indicated, a plurality of signals, an operating mechanism for'each of said signals, a'source of energy local to each said operating mechanism, acircuit local to each said operating mechanism and including the same and said source of energy local thereto, a switch in each of said local circuits, a switch-operating mechanism for each said switch, a line-circuit including of said switch-operating mechanisms and receiving its energy from a source independent of said local sources of energy, a device .in said linecircuit for controlling the same, a second switch in each of said local circuits, said sec ond switches being adapted to be brought into operative positions at different times with respect to each other, a second circuit local to each of said signals, an operating mechanism for each of said second switches. andlocated in the respective said second local circuit, a switch ,in each of said second local circuits, a switch-operating mechanism for each of said last-mentioned switches, a second line-circuit including all of said last-mentioned switchoperatingmechanisms and receiving its energy from a source independent of said local 5 sources of energy and also independent of said source of energy which supplies said firstmentioned line-circuit, and a device in said second line-circuitifor controlling the same; substantially as described.

4. In apparatus of the character indicated, asignal, operating mechanism therefor, a normally-open circuit controlling said mechanism, a stationsignal in said. circuit, a signalsending mechanism-in said circuit and pro- 5 vided with a circuit-breaker normally in circhit-forming position, means for closing said circuit to cause operation of said first-mentioned signal, and means whereby said firstmentioned signal by its operation causes sig- 2 nal-sending operation of said circuit-breaker of said signal-sending mechanism; substantially as described.

5. in a systemof the character indicated, a

signal, means for operating the same, a part 5 movable upon operation of said signal, and an answering-back mechanism including a second signal, a driving means,a loosely-mounted gear, operative connection between said gear and said second signal, connection between 3 said gear and said driving means for placing the latter in driving condition by operation of the former, means for operatively connect-.

ing said movable part and said gear, and ineans for automatically breaking .said connection;

substantially as described. 6. In a system of the character indicated, a

signal, means for operating the same, a part movable upon operation ofsaid signal, and an answering-back mechanism including a second 4 signal, a driving means, a loosely-mounted gear, operative connection between said gear and said second signal, connection between said gear and said driving means for placing the latter in driving condition by operation of the former, a member upon said movable part and engaging said gear, and aprojection in the path of movement of said member for breaking said engagement; substantially as described. i

7. In a systeinof the character indicated, a signal, means for operating the same, a shaft rotatableupon operation of said signal, and an answering-back mechanism including a second'signal, a driving member, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft and connected to said driving member for placing the latter in driving condition, a bolt upon said shaft engaging said gear, a projection in the path of travel of said bolt for breaking said engagement, and operativeconnection between said gear and said second signal; substantially as described. I

8. In a switch of the character indicated, a-

rotatable' disk, a contact member thereon, "a

second contact member cooperating with said first-mentioned contact member, a reciproeating lever, pawl-and-ratchet connection between said lever and said disk for driving thetween said lever and said disk for driving the] latter, teeth upon said disk, a pawl adapted to cooperate with said teeth to limit the movcment of said disk, and adjustable operative connection between said pawl and said lever; substantially as described.

10. In a switch of the character indicated, a

rotatable disk, a contact member thereon, a

second contact member cooperating with said first-mentioned contact member, a supporting-post, a pawl pivotally supported upon said post, teeth 'upon said disk with which said pawl engages to limit the movement of the disk, pawIand-ratchet connection between said lever' and disk for. driving the latter, a finger extending from said first-mentioned pawl, and parts carried by said lever and engaging opposite sides of said finger; substantially as described.

11. In a switch of the charactenindicated, a

rotatable disk, a contact member thereon, a

second contact member cooperating with said first-mentioned contact member, a supporting-post, a pawl pivotally supported upon said post, teeth upon said disk with which said pawl engages to limit the movement of the disk, pawl-and-ratchet connection between said. lever and disk for driving the latter, a

.finger extending from said first mentioned pawl, and adjustable parts carried by said lever and engaging opposite sides of said finger;

substantially as described."

In testimony whereof I-hereunto aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses,

this ilth day ofpAugust, 1902.

'J'A'h/IES EQALLISON. Witnesses:

1 Games P. MpoRE,

Gnonon BAKEWELL. 

